What Happened To EI-BWF?

GJAerLingus

I was browsing through flickr when I came across a B747-200 with the registration being EI-BWF. I googled this and found that it belonged to Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) for a while back in the 1990s. I followed up to the most recent owner and found that the aircraft is currently "stored". What does this exactly mean and why would they not just scrap it if it was just sitting around? Does anyone know where it is at the moment?
Thanks.

L1011

GJAerLingus wrote: »

I was browsing through flickr when I came across a B747-200 with the registration being EI-BWF. I googled this and found that it belonged to Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) for a while back in the 1990s. I followed up to the most recent owner and found that the aircraft is currently "stored". What does this exactly mean and why would they not just scrap it if it was just sitting around? Does anyone know where it is at the moment?
Thanks.

"stored" on fleet listings - if for any length of time - usually means its in Mojave or similar awaiting the chop for coke cans. It just means the frame hasn't been scrapped (or recorded as scrapped)

GJAerLingus

L1011 wrote: »

"stored" on fleet listings - if for any length of time - usually means its in Mojave or similar awaiting the chop for coke cans. It just means the frame hasn't been scrapped (or recorded as scrapped)

Thanks, that makes sense. After searching through the web a bit more, I found a picture of it sitting at Chataeaux airport in France awhile ago.
To my suprise, it looks in rather good condition. I was expecting it to be torn up

Except for the rudder being detached, it looks ok. Could it be brought back into service? I know it would be expensive for maintenance especially at the frame`s age but would the engines still start?

L1011

If they've been stored properly, yes; but there is effectively no reason you would bring a 742 back in to service when there's lots of 744s retired already.

GJAerLingus

L1011 wrote: »

If they've been stored properly, yes; but there is effectively no reason you would bring a 742 back in to service when there's lots of 744s retired already.

I know what you mean. But the engines have covers over them. Are they trying to keep the engines? Do the aircraft ever get moved when in storage or do they just stay there all the time?

L1011

The engines parts may have value for re-sale that they wouldnt have if left exposed.

Aircraft do, sometimes, get bought or otherwise returned to service from the desert - but a 742 won't be. There's also airlines which use desert storage intentionally, e.g. BA put some 744s out with the full intent of taking them back, think all are back in service now.

Razor44

Some dc8's were reactivated bout 10 years afaik, by a u.s cargo carrier. Think there all scrap now though.

man98

Razor44 wrote: »

Some dc8's were reactivated bout 10 years afaik, by a u.s cargo carrier. Think there all scrap now though.

There's still DC 8-70s (refits) doing the rounds in Shannon for Bóthar. While they are inefficient it's a cheap fix I suppose. Very little hop for -BWF though.

GJAerLingus

L1011 wrote: »

The engines parts may have value for re-sale that they wouldnt have if left exposed.

Aircraft do, sometimes, get bought or otherwise returned to service from the desert - but a 742 won't be. There's also airlines which use desert storage intentionally, e.g. BA put some 744s out with the full intent of taking them back, think all are back in service now.

Are Kalitta still taking on 742s or are they phasing them out? I think the same happened with EI-SHN after 9/11 and then it was brought back with another airline.

GJAerLingus

man98 wrote: »

There's still DC 8-70s (refits) doing the rounds in Shannon for Bóthar. While they are inefficient it's a cheap fix I suppose. Very little hop for -BWF though.

I think there was a Boeing 727 sitting in Shannon up until recently when it was scrapped.

GJAerLingus

man98 wrote: »

There's still DC 8-70s (refits) doing the rounds in Shannon for Bóthar. While they are inefficient it's a cheap fix I suppose. Very little hop for -BWF though.

I think there was a Boeing 727 sitting in Shannon up until recently when it was scrapped. It was an Iberia 727 that was sitting there for years.

Cookiemunster

GJAerLingus wrote: »

I think there was a Boeing 727 sitting in Shannon up until recently when it was scrapped. It was an Iberia 727 that was sitting there for years.

Thats the fire training plane. Unless I'm mistaken it's still there.

GJAerLingus

Razor44 wrote: »

Some dc8's were reactivated bout 10 years afaik, by a u.s cargo carrier. Think there all scrap now though.

I think the same happened with some old Aer Lingus Shorts360s.

GJAerLingus

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Thats the fire training plane. Unless I'm mistaken it's still there.

I cant remember where I read it but there was an original Pan Am 727 at Shannon that was scrapped in an old Aer Lingus hangar this summer.

Crumbs868

While a different airline / 747 variant one of the saddest photos known to man

Growler!!!

GJAerLingus wrote: »

I cant remember where I read it but there was an original Pan Am 727 at Shannon that was scrapped in an old Aer Lingus hangar this summer.

That was VP-BNA. There was a time lapse video of it being scrapped by Transaero I think but I can't find it now.

Kenny2012

GJAerLingus wrote: »

I was browsing through flickr when I came across a B747-200 with the registration being EI-BWF. I googled this and found that it belonged to Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA) for a while back in the 1990s. I followed up to the most recent owner and found that the aircraft is currently "stored". What does this exactly mean and why would they not just scrap it if it was just sitting around? Does anyone know where it is at the moment?
Thanks.

It is stored in Chateauroux, last reg was N747SF.

Blue Punto

SE-DFZ by niallsaviation, on Flickr

Here she is in Dublin Many moons ago in one of her many Identities

Blue Punto

Kenny2012 wrote: »

It is stored in Chateauroux, last reg was N747SF.

I Believe SX-FIN is its present and last reg

BZ

Dont know if anyone here has heard or been tracking the progress of the US based airline Baltia airlines? They intend to operate from JFK to Russia and Europe using 747-200s.Their first aircraft an ex northwest bird which has been stored since 2009 in the last week or two flew for the first time after completing months of heavy checks.
I cant see this airline lasting let alone get going but if there is any hope to see the classic 747s flying again for another few years its them.

man98

They want to fly to places which don't fly to the US, right? That's about all I know. I would say JFK - Riga etc. is possible with a low frequency, but will they take on more B742s? I doubt it, but let's hope.

Blue Punto

They actually have 2 747-200

One is N706BL Ex Northwest N623US (Once a Dublin regular)
The other is N705BL EX PIA AP-AYW

Not sure which one flew as they both were receiving major work over that last number of years

BZ

N706BL is the aircraft that flew as far as I know the ex PIA bird was stripped for parts for the other 747.

roundymac

Why would they fly 742s when there are plenty of newer and more modern 744s stored and available?

intellectual dosser

Crumbs868 wrote: »

While a different airline / 747 variant one of the saddest photos known to man

I take it this is an example of why most airlines remove their livery and branding before moving aircraft to the desert.

L1011

roundymac wrote: »

Why would they fly 742s when there are plenty of newer and more modern 744s stored and available?

Because it really seems its nothing more than a complete scam to get money from investors. A 742 costs less to keep sitting doing nothing.

Kenny2012

Blue Punto wrote: »

I Believe SX-FIN is its present and last reg

It may still carry SX-FIN on the aircraft but on FAA website c/n 21575 is assigned as N747SF to Aerospace Trust Management.


regards

Ken